Anwar Ibrahim & The Perfect Decoy
Khoo Kay Peng
If the 1999 sodomy allegation & trial did not stop Anwar Ibrahim and his loosely assembled coalition from denying Barisan Nasional its two thirds majority in 2008, what makes the the ruling government think that it can end Anwar’s political career with the current “hooker” sex video?
Anwar has provided a perfect decoy for the Pakatan coalition for some years now. It is Anwar who has diverted the Barisan’s attention away from attacking the leaders of Dap and Pas. Dap leaders are able to continue working quietly and peacefully to strengthen their political base throughout major cities in Malaysia.
By continuing to attack Anwar on his recent sexual misconducts, the action helps to highlight and magnify the hypocrisy in Barisan’s own camp when dealing with its own leaders’ marital problems and sexual misconducts.
Without Anwar, the Barisan component parties would have stepped up worse racial pressure against the main benefactor of the growing discontent in cities, the Dap.
Meanwhile, Umno and its associated organizations/allies are expected to push the gas pedal on racial issues by claiming that the Chinese community aspires to take over the running of this country.
MCA has started the ball rolling by declaring that it will not seek positions in both federal and state governments should the party loses more seats than 2008. It means that the Chinese voters must vote for the party if they want Chinese representatives in the cabinet.
It is best for the party to quickly understand that the community wants more than mere representation. They wanted a voice and representatives who can help to carry their voices, concerns and aspirations into parliament and government.
MCA president Chua Soi Lek said that he supported Malay special rights enshrined in the federal constitution. It is pertinent for those promoting Malay special rights to fully understand the spirit of Article 153. The privileges are rooted in history.
Article 153 was intended to help create a fairer and just distribution of wealth and resources among Malaysians of all races. It was not intended to create a two-tier citizenship or to suppress the rights of other communities. It was not meant for those Malays who are more than capable to compete in the economy.
The founding fathers had understood that any policy which is implemented solely based on ethnicity, in the long run, will create social division in the society.
Today’s political reality has proven the founding fathers right. The affirmative policy which was intended to correct the economic and social imbalances in the society has turned in a political tool to create and to embolden social division in the country. It is sad to note that Malaysians are permanently divided into two social classes – Bumiputera and Non-Bumiputera.
MCA cannot issue such threat without understanding the socio-political history of this country.
